Integrated perforating gun and setting tool system and method

Abstract

An interchangeable module configured to be used in an integrated perforating gun and setting tool system, the interchangeable module having a body having a chamber, a first electrical connection located at a first end of the chamber, and a second electrical connection located at a second end of the chamber. The first end is opposite to the second end. An addressable switch located inside the chamber, the addressable switch has a digital address. A connection unit located inside the chamber and configured to electrically connect the addressable switch to an initiating device. The interchangeable module is configured to be used (1) between a first gun cluster and a second gun cluster and (2) between a distal gun cluster and a setting tool, and the first and second electrical connections are electrically connected to the addressable switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interchangeable module configured to be used in an integrated perforating gun and setting tool system, the interchangeable module comprising:
 a body having a chamber, a first electrical connection located at a first end of the chamber, and a second electrical connection located at a second end of the chamber, wherein the first end is opposite to the second end; 
 an addressable switch located inside the chamber, wherein the addressable switch has a digital address; and 
 a connection unit located inside the chamber, and configured to electrically connect the addressable switch to an initiating device, 
 wherein the interchangeable module is configured to be used (1) between a first gun cluster and a second gun cluster and (2) between a distal gun cluster and a setting tool, and 
 wherein the first and second electrical connections are electrically connected to the addressable switch. 
 
     
     
       2. The interchangeable module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the initiating device, which is detachably attached to the body, inside the chamber. 
 
     
     
       3. The interchangeable module of  claim 2 , wherein the initiating device is a detonator when the module is located between the first gun cluster and the second gun cluster and an ignitor when the module is located between the distal gun cluster and the setting tool. 
     
     
       4. The interchangeable module of  claim 2 , wherein the initiating device is selected based on whether the module is placed between the first and second gun clusters or between the distal gun cluster and the setting tool. 
     
     
       5. The interchangeable module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first external threads formed on the body and the body is shaped as a box. 
 
     
     
       6. The interchangeable module of  claim 5 , wherein the first external threads are formed only on the two opposite ends of the body. 
     
     
       7. The interchangeable module of  claim 6 , wherein the two opposite ends of the body correspond to a width of the box, a length of the box is aligned to a length of the first and second gun clusters, and a height of the box corresponds to an internal diameter of a tandem sub in which the module is located. 
     
     
       8. The interchangeable module of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 second external threads formed at the first end of the body. 
 
     
     
       9. The interchangeable module of  claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the second external threads is smaller than a diameter of the first external threads. 
     
     
       10. The interchangeable module of  claim 1 , wherein the connection unit is wired to the initiating device. 
     
     
       11. A tandem sub configured to be used in an integrated perforating gun and setting tool system, the tandem sub comprising:
 a cylindrical body having a bore; 
 an interchangeable module located inside the bore of the cylindrical body; and 
 an initiating device located inside the interchangeable module, 
 wherein the cylindrical body is configured to attach with either end to a gun cluster and a setting tool of the integrated perforating gun and setting tool system, and 
 wherein the initiating device is a detonator when the module is located between the gun cluster and another gun cluster, and an ignitor when the module is located between the gun cluster and the setting tool. 
 
     
     
       12. The tandem sub of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical body has three regions, a first region that engages the gun cluster, a second region that engages another gun cluster, and a third region that is sandwiched between the first and second regions, and wherein the third region is the only region exposed to the outside when the tandem sub is fully engaged to the gun cluster and the another gun cluster, and wherein a length of the third region is smaller than 5 cm. 
     
     
       13. The tandem sub of  claim 12 , wherein the length of the third region is smaller than 1 cm. 
     
     
       14. The tandem sub of  claim 11 , wherein the interchangeable module comprises:
 a body having the first external threads; 
 an addressable switch located inside the body; and 
 the initiating device is located inside the body and electrically connected to the addressable switch. 
 
     
     
       15. The tandem sub of  claim 11 , wherein the initiating device is detachably attached to the interchangeable module. 
     
     
       16. The tandem sub of  claim 11 , wherein the interchangeable module has first external threads formed on a body and the body is shaped as a box. 
     
     
       17. The tandem sub of  claim 16 , wherein the first external threads are formed only on two opposite faces of the body. 
     
     
       18. The tandem sub of  claim 17 , wherein the two opposite faces of the body correspond to a width of the box, a length of the box corresponds to a length of the gun cluster, and a height of the box corresponds to an internal diameter of the bore.